New York Attorney General Letitia James hit back at former President Donald Trump after he stormed out of a Manhattan courthouse and was later fined $10,000 in a day of legal fireworks.
In a dramatic outburst Wednesday afternoon at the New York State Supreme Court, the former president threw his arms in the air before standing and leaving.
This came after Michael Cohen, a fixer-turned-enemy, testified that Trump did not direct him to increase the value of his properties.
Trump left the courtroom and told waiting reporters: “The witness just admitted that we won the trial and the judge should end this trial immediately. ‘Thank you very much.’
After the explosive day in court, Attorney General Letitia James hit back at Trump, saying the idea that Cohen was undermining the state’s case was untrue.
After the explosive day in court, Attorney General Letitia James hit back at Trump, saying the idea that Cohen was undermining the state’s case was untrue
Former US President Donald Trump attends the Trump Organization civil fraud trial in the New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, USA, on October 25, 2023
Outside court she said: “The investigation took four years and there is mountains of evidence which essentially confirms the statements of a number of witnesses.”
“It is also important to note that Michael Cohen is not the key witness.” His testimony was backed up by mountains of evidence, enough evidence to fill the courtroom.
“And that’s why I look forward again to the continuation of this process.” And I always look, and of course I always look forward to justice. Thank you.
“There is ample evidence that Mr. Trump, the Trump Organization and the other defendants did indeed commit widespread fraud.”
Cohen’s admission – which contradicts his earlier testimony – prompted defense attorney Clifford Robert to call for a directed verdict and argue that his testimony was grounds for dismissal.
Judge Arthur Engoron said it had been “absolutely denied” and that the case had “evidence everywhere”. He also said he did not consider Cohen a “key witness.”
“There is enough evidence in this case to fill this courtroom,” the judge said.
Michael Cohen, pictured here, testified that Trump did not direct him to increase the value of his properties
Donald Trump left the courtroom Wednesday afternoon shortly after one of his lawyers finished questioning fixer-turned-enemy Michael Cohen
Trump’s departure came after he was fined for the second time for violating a gag order.
Judge Engoron fined the former president $10,000 after Engoron found that comments he made to reporters during a break in the trial violated a partial silence order issued several weeks ago.
Judge Engoron called Trump to the stand after lunch on Wednesday to explain his remarks.
When Trump spoke outside the courtroom that morning, he had told reporters: “This judge is a very partisan judge, sitting next to him is a person who is very partisan, maybe even much more partisan than him” – an apparent reference to his clerk, Allison Greenfield .
Trump slowly rose from his seat on a bench between his lawyers and sat on the witness stand, where he addressed himself before addressing his comments.
Trump reiterated his lawyer’s previous claims, telling the judge that he was referring to his former fixer who testified, Michael Cohen – and not Greenfield.
The comment about partisans was directed at “you and Cohen,” he told the judge, who ultimately found his testimony “not credible.”
“The idea that this statement would refer to the witness makes no sense to me,” Engoron said, warning: “Don’t do that again or it will get worse.”
Judge Engoron paused the proceedings shortly before lunch to rebuke Trump for his comments, calling them a “flagrant, dangerous violation” of his court order.
Judge Arthur Engoron paused proceedings shortly before the court’s lunch break on Wednesday to scold Trump for publicly speaking out against him and his clerk, Allison Greenfield, left.
Trump was called to the stand to address comments he previously made outside the courtroom about Judge Engoron and his court staff
Five days earlier, Trump was fined $5,000 after Engoron learned that an offensive social media post from early October had lingered on Trump’s campaign website for weeks after it was posted – on the judge’s orders – by Trump Social media platform Truth had been removed.
On Wednesday, Judge Engoron revisited the matter, saying he issued the order because “I don’t want anyone to be killed.”
Cohen, who cut ties with Trump five years ago, returned to the witness stand on Wednesday to face further cross-examination from defense attorneys who sought to undermine his credibility by portraying him as a convicted felon and serial liar.
On Tuesday afternoon, attorney Alina Habba took the floor and attacked Cohen’s credibility, citing statements made by prosecutors during his 2018 sentencing on eight criminal charges, including five counts of tax evasion.
Habba cited statements that Cohen was “motivated by personal greed” and “repeatedly used his power and influence for fraudulent purposes.”
The sentencing judge at the time also found that Cohen’s crimes showed a “pattern of deception that permeated his professional life” and said he “abused his relationship with a powerful person,” referring to Trump.
Michael Cohen goes to New York State Supreme Court after the trial was adjourned for a day
As Trump sat with his defense team, his lawyer Alina Habba confronted his former fixer Michael Cohen about comments he made praising Trump before turning against him when Cohen’s legal troubles began in 2018
In response, Cohen admitted that when he pleaded guilty to the five tax offenses he was not telling the truth because he did not believe they were criminal offenses.
Attorney General James found that Trump and his company deceived banks, insurance companies and others by massively overstating his assets and exaggerating his net worth in filings used to conduct business and secure financing.
Prosecutors allege he increased his net worth by $812 million to $2.2 billion each year for a decade.
James argues that Trump inflated his ratings as he sought loans. Trump’s lawyers are asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit, calling it a “crusade” against long-paid-off loans.
She said he inflated valuations by as much as $2 billion, driving up the value of key assets including the Mar-a-Lago club where he now lives and his penthouse apartment at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
Trump waves as he returns to the courtroom after a break in his civil white collar fraud trial in the New York Supreme Court. He was fined $10,000 for violating a judge’s silence order for the second time
James is demanding a $250 million fine and a ban on Trump doing business in his home state of New York. The trial could last until December, Engoron said.
Trump has long accused James and other prosecutors in New York of pursuing him in what he has described as a “witch hunt.”
On Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump also said: “The New York Attorney General’s case against me is DEAD, but the radical left judge refuses to end it.”
“He just can’t help it.” Your “main witness” lied like a dog on the witness stand today and then admitted that I did NOTHING WRONG!
“A total sleaze bag.” Letitia James should focus on violent crimes that are spiraling out of control.
‘So unfair. I can’t even get a jury trial. A plague on the New York State justice system.
“Companies all over the world are seeing that they never come in, they just move out.” The governor should get involved. Election interference by my political opponent!’